We, heads of the municipality, aldermen and council of the city of Leuven and mayors, aldermen and council of Antwerp announce to anyone who shall see or hear this letter, that in our own name and in the name of the common land of Brabant we have a rightful debt of 3100 golden French crowns, as used by merchants, or its equivalent in good money, to Jan van den Eede, inhabitant of Bruges, or to the bearer of this letter. As good men we promise, on our oath, jointly by our fidelity, honour, and security, to repay and pay this sum before the next Whitsun Fair at Antwerp, without any delay.

If it should be the case that we did not fulfil this promise and did not pay the said sum on the said day, then we promise on our fidelity, honour, and vow, immediately, without any further reminder, to send for each town four good men with twelve horses on the day after the said Antwerp Whitsun Fair to Inn De Leck in Bruges. They shall remain there as hostages and be fed at timely times, and shall not leave the city of Bruges until we have paid the said sum of money in full, and in addition all expenses, digestion and damages that the said John, or the possessor of this letter shall have. We promise to hold him, or the possessor of this letter, without further proof or oath, harmless from these costs and to pay on a mere notice or demand. We will also not deduct this from the principal amount.

In order to keep the said conditions and promises in full, we, heads of the municipality, aldermen and council of the city of Louvain and we mayors, aldermen and council of the city of Antwerp, have pledged all our city goods, body and property of all our gatekeepers and inhabitants, whom one may arrest and prosecute anywhere, confiscate their goods, until the time when we have fulfilled all the said conditions. Without argument.

In certificate thereof we, heads of the town, aldermen and council of the town of Leuven and we mayors, aldermen and council of Antwerp have attached the daily seals of our towns to this letter.

Given on 20 December of the year our Lords 1420.